In the first file open, I set an array so that I can then add 1 to the number. Even if all the information is destroyed in the first file open (which is read only right?), I have still written the array which is stored. When the first process is done, it goes to the second, which opens the file as read/write and then writes the new variable, which was the first item in the array plus one. When that is done, I then open it one last time in read only, and then set a new array so that I can then post the number as output to HTML.
This is the way I see what is going on. I don't quite follow you on what you are saying.